Avast free AV IS adware. Sure, it may prevent your computer being infected with other adware, but it's worse than any of them. I wouldn't mind the occasional ad, but they are all dishonest. For example, you get a popup telling you that Avast has identified a browser with a "bad reputation" and offers to remove it. Now, not only is that dishonest (The "bad" browser being Firefox in my case) But if you trust your AV to take care of things and click the button, you are now taken to the page where you can BUY the software to remove the "Threat". This is true of most of the ads that pop up. They all hide the fact that they are going to ask for money until the last second, and most also lie about some threat you need to pay to protect yourself from. What is that if not adware? I honestly don't mind advertisements as long as they keep things free. But just tell me why you think your product rocks, and don't lie to me! Other free AV software hits you with adverts, but they don't use lies and tricks to con gullible people into buying things they don't need.

I used it for years too. It's only in the last 6 months or so that it's been like this. There's a chance I got a fake version, but I doubt it. It's from their own site. It never even had popup ads before. Just the occasional annoying update message.

I used it for years too. It's only in the last 6 months or so that it's been like this. There's a chance I got a fake version, but I doubt it. It's from their own site. It never even had popup ads before. Just the occasional annoying update message.

Only thing I've seen is a "time to renew!" message. I put it in silent mode and it doesn't bother me.

Micklos wrote:Hmmm. Wonder if I got a fake version. I doubt it. I've installed it several times. I'd have to be pretty drunk to follow a link to a download of it on CNET or that other one people put freeware on.

Does not sound like your Avast is reporting this, but more like you have been infected with a little "bugger" portraying itself as Avast to guide you into malware heaven.

Personally I have never used it. But the reporting of your browser as a whole, and not the specific file like for example *.exe, sounds like the common "bugger" report to me.

If you are not that experienced I recommend you let someone you know who are experienced take a look.